Rail-joint.



H. F. NELSON.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 3, 1913.

1,109,780, Patented Sept. 8, 1914.

IZZY/Velma,

Witnesses Inventor Q, [5 Att0rneys /f/ I 1 I 1/ v I, by a UNITED sr TEs PATENT OFFICE.

HODGE, or BAYOU sAR-A, LOUISIANA.

I I-IENRYVF. NELSON, or ANGoLA, LoUIsIANA, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF 'ro ILLIAM -WALLACE recon, or ANGoLA, LOUISIANA,

p RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Iletters Patent.

Patented se t. s, 1914.

Application filed December 3, 1913. Serial No. 804,498.

To all whom it may concern 1 Be it known that I, HENRY F. NELsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Angola, in the parish of West Feliciana' and State of Louisiana, have invented a new and useful Rail-J 011113, of whlch the following is a speclfication.

The present invention appertains to rail able portions for locking the side members together. A v Another object ofthe present invention is to provide a device of the nature indicated wherein the side or clamp members are' provided with such peculiar interengageable portions below the rails, as to cause the side members'to be moved together, upon pressure being given to bear upon the rail ends, in order that the rail ends will be tightly clamped or gripped when a train is traversing the track.

A further object of-the present invention is to provide a device of the character specified which will be comparatively simple, substantial, durable and inexpensive in construction, as well as being convenient, practical, safe and eflicient in its use. i

lVith the foregoing general objects outlined, and with other objects in view, which will be apparentas the nature of the invention is better understood, the present invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein closed, can bemade within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention. i

The invention has been illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of the rail joint, one rail end and the corresponding portion of the fish plates or jaws being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a cross section of the joint, taken on the line 2'2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an end view of the side or clamping members in slightly separated positions, i11nstrating the manner of moving the said members to and from each other.

In carrying out the present invention, the

AND ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM T.'

two members of the present device embody the respective base portions 1 andl having the respective upstanding fish plates or clamping jaws 2 and'2; Thebase portions 1 and 1 are adapted to rest upon the ties and are adapted to receive thereon, the edge portions of the rail flanges as clearly seen in Fig. 2, 'while the fish plates or jaws 2 and '2 are'adapted tofit against the webs of the rails R between the base flanges and heads or balls of the rails.

The fish plate or jaw 2 is provided with the inner sockets 3 adapted to register with the openings or slots Oof the rails, while the other fish plateorjaw 2 is provided with inner lugs or dowels 4. adapted to pass through the slots 0 of the rails R to engage the sockets 3.

The adjoining edges of the base portions 1 and 1 are spaced'apart underneath the base flanges of the rails and are provided with the overlapping tongues or portions 5 and 6 respectively. The "tongue 5 of the base portion 1, is preferably flush with the u per face of the said base portion, while the tongue 6 of the base portion 1 is preferably flush with the bottom or lower face of the said base portion 1. the tongues 5 and 6 having their adjoining faces beveled from their free edges to their basal'edges, or to .the edges of the base portions 1 and 1 resnectivelyf. The adjoining beveled faces of the tongues 5 and 6 are adapted to interengage, and are preferably cut laterally on compound curves, as clearly seen in Figs. 2 and 3. i i

To assemble the clamp or side members with the rails, the clamp members are placed over the opposite sides of the rail ends, the rail ends being raised. Then, by overlapping the tongues 5 and 6, the fish plates or jaws 2 and 2' may be swung'together against the webs of the rails, the dowels 4 being adapted to pass through the openings O in the rails R to engage the sockets 3. which will lock the clamp members against longitudinal movement with respect to o another. In this manner, the rail en s. are anchored loosely within the clamp members, the elongated openings 01; slots 0,0 the rail webs permitting the rails is sli e long'i tudinally due to expansion and contraction of the rails under atmospheric changes. The base flanges of the rails are adapted to rest upon the'upper'tongue 5 and the lower beveled face of the tongue 5 resting upon the upper beveled face of the tongue 6, will cause the clamp or side members to be moved toward each other, upon pressure being applied'to'the rail ends. Thus, when a train traverses the track, the joints will be tight ened under the weight of the train, in order .that the train may safely pass over the joints without accident.

The adjoining faces of the tongues 5 and 6 being curved as above described, will provide longitudinal rounded contacting portions between the tongues, which will reduce friction, in'order that the downward pressure upon the tongue 5 will cause the tongues to overlap further under the pressure, so as to clamp the fish plates or jaws 2-2 against the rails. The peculiar formation of the adjoiningfacesof the tongues 56'will-also permitthe'clamp members to be interlocked and unlocked in.a convenient and efficient manner, vit being observed that when the .tongues are overlapped as illustrated in Fig. 2, the side members of the device will be locked against separation transversely or laterally, the dowels 4 in engaging the sockets 3 also looking the said members against longitudinal movement. To release the clamp members, it is merely necessary to raise the rail ends, in order that the side members may'first be swung apart 'to release the rail webs, and which will in turn permitthe tongues to be'released from each-other and from under the base fiangesof the rails.

The present joint willbe an effective'one, the parts thereof not being capable of displacement or dislodgment accidentally. The parts rof the joint cannot work loose, as would be liable .to cause wreckage or other accidents, it being noted that the parts are not only interlocked, but are so interlocked as to be tightened upon pressure being applied'to the rail ends.

The parts of the device are preferably constructed of steel, or other suitable material may be employed, in order that the device may withstand the hammering and concussions to which it is subjected in use.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In a rail joint, clamp members adapted to receive the rail ends, and having tongues arranged to overlap beneath the rails, the adjoining faces of'the tongues being curved laterally on compoundcurves so as to have longitudinal rounded contacting portions, whereby the clamp members are moved together under pressure upon the rail ends and whereby the clamp members are adapted to be swung together and apart laterally.

2. In a rail joint, clamp members each embodying a base portion having an upstanding web engaging jaw, the adjoining edges of the base portions having upper and lower overlapping tongues, the adjoining .faces of the ton ues bein curved laterall b R:

on compound curves so as to have longitudinal rounded contacting portions, where by the clamp members are moved together under pressure upon the rail ends, and whereby the clamp members are adapted to be swung together and apart laterally, the jaws having interchangeable dowels and sockets, and the dowels being engageable through the apertures in the rail webs.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as myown, -I have hereto affixed my signature in-the'presence of two witnesses.

JOHN BROGAN, ETHEL MoRAn.

(floples of Ithispatent may be obtainedior five cents each, hy'addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

' 'washing'tony'bacl 

